1. National AT Reuse Scene
Jeremy Buzzell
Office of Policy and Planning
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education

3. The Perfect Storm Reauthorization of the Assistive Technology Act
New Freedom Initiative
Interest from OSERS’ leadership
Hurricane Katrina

5. Goal!
To increase the availability of assistive technology (AT) through promoting and supporting the appropriate, effective reuse of AT devices at the state and local level.

6. Goal! Appropriate reuse: Is safe for consumers and reusers
Results in positive outcomes for consumers
Is environmentally friendly

7. Goal! Effective reuse: Meets the needs of consumers
Produces cost savings
Is sustainable
Has a positive or neutral effect on the AT field

8. Goal! Don’t create a new regulated reuse bureaucracy
Don’t undermine consumers’ options for getting new AT from systems that that support them

10. Sherlock Holmes
Federal Interagency Committee on Disability Research
Meetings with AT Act Programs and others
National Conference on AT Reuse

12. Flight of the Phoenix
Technical Assistance Center
Special Demonstrations of AT Reuse

14. If you build it, they will come.

16. All Creatures Great and Small
No two programs are alike . . .
But no two programs are that different.
There is little evidence that any one model is better than another . . .
But there is plenty of evidence that every model could be better.

18. A Simple Plan Devices exchanges
Easy to create but not easy to fill or get data
Significantly outperformed by hands-on device reuse activities

20. Scary Movie
Working conditions
Reuse practices
Legal infrastructure
Sustainability

22. Brewster’s Millions
Reuse saves money.
But it also costs money – especially if you want to do it right.
There is no silver bullet when it comes to sustainability.

24. My One and Only Reuse is A solution, but it is not THE solution.
Reuse has an important role in getting AT into the hands of people with disabilities – but who/what defines (and will continue to define) that role?

26. The Pursuit of Happyness
Reuse changes lives.

30. The Future of AT Reuse

31. Show me the money!

33. The Good Focus on the environment Focus on technology
Recession/unemployment
Upcoming legislation: Rehabilitation Act, IDEA, AT Act
Two centers funded by NIDRR:
Center on the Effective Delivery of Rehabilitation Technology (RT) to Improve Employment Outcomes for Persons with Significant Disabilities
Access to Technology in Resource Limited Environments

34. The Bad Upcoming legislation: Rehabilitation Act, IDEA, AT Act
Current lack of leadership at ED
Insufficient data, unanswered questions
Industry fears and liability

35. The Ugly
Foreign conflicts
Health care reform
Recession/unemployment
Fear of liability
Rumors